Galvin’s management company has now taken legal action against the Wests Tigers.

Social media posts made by Jarome Luai and Sunia Turuva have landed the Wests Tigers in legal trouble, with Lachie Galvin’s management company serving the club with a legal letter claiming the teenager has been bullied. Luai and Turuva both made pointed social media posts in the wake of Galvin’s decision not to accept a new deal with the Tigers, and the 19-year-old will test the open market instead.

Galvin has been dropped to NSW Cup by coach Benji Marshall, with Adam Doueihi set to partner Luai in the halves against Parramatta on Monday. Marshall has insisted that Galvin can work his way back into the first-grade team, but that seems increasingly unlikely given the teenager’s management has now taken legal action against the club.

It’s unclear what ramifications the legal action might have for the Tigers – or individual players who made the social media posts However it remains a possibility they could be hit with some sort of sanctions. Luai posted an image captioned “Team First”, while Turuva uploaded a photo of Galvin’s locker to the background of a song referencing money.

The Tigers declined to comment when contacted on Sunday. Isaac Moses, the director of Galvin’s management firm Cove Agency, has also been approached for comment.

Benji Marshall insists Lachie Galvin hasn’t been bullied

Speaking at a press conference last week, Marshall denied he or anyone at the club had “bullied” Galvin. “I’m all about the mental wellbeing of our players and this has been tough for him and his parents, who are really good people and want the best for their son,” Marshall said.

“I don’t think he’s being bullied by the other players. We don’t stand for bullying, and I spoke to the team this morning about it – that’s not us. We’re not bullies, our players are not bullies. They had an emotional reaction … but it’s not bullying. I don’t think (Turuva) should have done it … but am I going to slap (him) on the wrist for it? No, we don’t need that.”

Luai said he took exception to criticism levelled against Marshall after it was reported Galvin doesn’t see his career taking off at the Tigers with the current coach. “You disrespect him, you disrespect us as a team, and I don’t stand for that,” Luai told reporters. “Throwing support behind the coach, what we stand for as a club … we’re working hard to have team-first behaviours.”

Jason Ryles keen to bring Lachie Galvin to Parramatta

Meanwhile, Parramatta coach Jason Ryles has confirmed the Eels are very interested in signing Galvin. The teenager played junior footy in the Parramatta area and was an Eels fan growing up. The 19-year-old recently ‘liked’ a social media post from a fan imploring him to come home to the club.

“Our five-eighth (Dylan Brown) has left, so we’re in the market for a five-eighth,” Ryles said on Sunday. “Lachie Galvin’s an exceptional talent, so when the time is right we’ll be speaking to him.

“There seems to be a connection from when he played here as a junior. At the end of the day it’s about what’s best for Lachlan and his family. Hopefully we’ll be one of the clubs he considers.”

RELATED:

• Reece Walsh blow could spark unwanted move with Kalyn Ponga
• Phil Gould levels accusation against Nicho Hynes over dodgy act

With the Galvin situation at the Tigers seemingly untenable, they could be prepared to release him early if they get a player back in return. One theory is Galvin could move to Parramatta immediately, which would send Brown to the Knights a year early and Kai Pearce-Paul to the Tigers in exchange.